Friday, September 08, 2006
The Look of a Terrorist?
I saw a bit on CNN today which describes Homeland Security's plans to train airport security screeners in observing micro face movements, so as to be able to tell who is likely to commit a terrorist attack. Given the number of people who have actually tried to commit a terrorist attack on an airplane since 9-11, it seems like a collossal waste of money and effort.
Not only that, but how accurrate are these observations anyway? According to the report, screeners are supposed to be able to tell when the person they are talking to has mixed feelings -- fear, or malice, accompanying honesty, friendliness, peacefulness, etc. The report didnt' say what might happen to a person displaying mixed feelings... presumably they'd be in for extra screening, or perhaps told they couldn't fly.
Honestly, most Arab or Indian males, and hijabed women, are going to display a certain level of anxiety. There have been too many reports of innocent people kicked off planes for no reason other than their brown skin or choice of clothing made people nervous. Even famous peace activists like Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) have been denied entry into the country. Given that scenario, of course they are going to be nervous, even fearful of an unpleasant encounter, missing a cousin's wedding or an important business meeting, because they were denied access to the plane.
Sounds like a fiasco in the making! ¶ 10:46 PM
Not only that, but how accurrate are these observations anyway? According to the report, screeners are supposed to be able to tell when the person they are talking to has mixed feelings -- fear, or malice, accompanying honesty, friendliness, peacefulness, etc. The report didnt' say what might happen to a person displaying mixed feelings... presumably they'd be in for extra screening, or perhaps told they couldn't fly.
Honestly, most Arab or Indian males, and hijabed women, are going to display a certain level of anxiety. There have been too many reports of innocent people kicked off planes for no reason other than their brown skin or choice of clothing made people nervous. Even famous peace activists like Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) have been denied entry into the country. Given that scenario, of course they are going to be nervous, even fearful of an unpleasant encounter, missing a cousin's wedding or an important business meeting, because they were denied access to the plane.
Sounds like a fiasco in the making! ¶ 10:46 PM
